Switch mechanism



5 sheets-'sheet l W. E. HARRISON SWITCH MEGHANISM Filed 001,. 18. 1920 Nov. 15, 1927.

Nov. 15, 1927.

W. E. HARRISON SWITCH MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct, 18. 1920 Fly INVENTOR WWA/am E lian/5012 AT'II'ORNEY WITNESSES:

Nov. l5, 1927. 4 1,649,030

w. E. HARRISON SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Oct. 18, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR u Mllfam E.' fiafff'z'sm ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. HARRSON, F PHLADLPHA, PENNSYLVAIIA, ASSGNOR TO TNIESlIllCt- HOUSE ELECTRIC & IvANUliACTURIlG- VANIA..

CCMPANY, A CQRPRATION 0F YENNSYL- swrron Meenemen.

Application filed October 18, 1929.

My invention relates to switch mechanisn'i and particularly to enclosed switches such as are employed in controlling lighting and power circuits.

[in object ot this invention is to provide an interlocking 'mechanism `between the switch mechanism and the cover closing the opening through which the fuse members are accessible, whereby closing movement olf the switch is precluded so long as the cover is in openposition. y

A further object is to provide interlocking mechanism between the switch mechanism and the cover whereby opening movement ot the cover .is precluded so long as the switch member occupies a predetermined open posit-ion. l

Another object is to provide interlocking mechanism between the switch mechanism and the cover whereby opening movement ot the cover is precluded so long as the switch is in any position other than its extreme open posit-ion, and whereby closing movement ot' the switch is precluded so longas the cover is in any position other than its closed position.

These and other objects that will be made apparent throughout the further description oiu the invention are attained by means oit the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation oit a switch mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line H- II of Fig. l; and y Fig'. 3 is a transverse section on the line lll-III ot Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the improved' interlocking mechanism is shown as applied, to a torni of switch mechanism illustrated in the cri-pending applications tor Letters Patent.v Serial No. 415,7tll, tiled Oct. 9, i920, by Henry L. Slausson, and assigned to the lestinghouse Electric & llianutactnring Company. The switch mechanism includes an insulating base 4t, upon which are mounted two pairs ot stationary switch-jaw members 5 and G and two pairs of fuse-clip members 7. Two switch-blade members 8 are pivoted to the jaw members 5 and are adapted to be mov-d into engagement with the jaw member 'tor closing the circuit through the sup-- ply terminals 9, the switch-jaw member (l,

Serial No. M7524.

the s\\.'itch-blade member 8, thejaw member 5, the conductor l0, the fuse clip i", the tuse member 1l, the clip 7 and the load terminal l2.'

A protect-ing cover or housing 13 enclose-s the switch member and the fuse members. The cover comprises an arcuate section disposed directly opposite the switch mechanism, the generating center ot curvature of the cover being co-incident with the axis ot' rotation ot the switch-blade meml er. The portion ot the housing surrounding the fuse member somewhat shallower than that enclosing` the switch mechanism and is provided with an opening lll that is closed by a door 15, which is hinged to the housing by means ot a hinge-pin 16. This door is normally heldclosed by means of aV tension spring 17 that is secured at one end to the housing` as at 18, and at the other end to the door.

The door 'l5 is provided with a sliding` latch bar 19 that normally/'engages a ledge 20 that is turned inwardly 'from the lower end of the housing to prevent opening movement 'of the door. The ylatch-bar 19 is yieldingly retained in latched'position by means of an interlocking` rocking` bar 2l that is pivoted at 22 to clips 23. The clips 23 are secured to that portion 24 ot the cover that lies between the arcuate tace thereof and the upper end of the opening le in the cover.

@ne end of the rocking bar is provided with an arcuate portion 25 that projects through a slot 26 provided in the upper end ot the latch-bar i9. The opposite end 2l oi the rocking bar extends toward the arcuate wall of the cover and is normally held in the position shown, wherein the latch-bar i9 is retained in closed or latched positiom by means of a helical compression spring 2'." that is disposed between the end ot the roching bar and the wall 2Liot the housing.

The switch blades 8 are connected b v means ot an insulating bar Q8 to which a tlat arcuate operating` bar 29 is attached. An operating handle 30, having a threaded shank f't. cf;- tends in the slot 32 provided in the cover and is screwed into the bar 29. A nut 33, that is non-rotatably secured to the shank 31, serves as a shoulder for limiting inward movement ot the handle. The nut is ol? greater width than the slot 232 and, conserpiently, the handle may not be removed lOl) to permit 'tree movmnent oi" the rover unless 'the switch member is moved io nu open position wherein the nut 9,3 re if-ters with the .vide section 54; ot the shit 32, through which the nut me); lie .vithc uwn.

The lett edge (Fig. l) of the ber 2i) is provided with a shouider S5 thzit ene'ziges the end 3G ot the rocking?, ber 2l when the switch is moved to open position. The end 3G is depressed thereby und the arcuate section raises the hitch-bnr i9 and unlntches the door l5. Then the switch is moved to closed position, the spring 3.7 again closes the door.

wWhen the switch is in open position, the 'tree end ot' the operating ber Q9 projects through a slot n0, and perforation 3T therethrough registers; with un openingl 2325 provided in the clip 39 the t secured to the housing wall 2li. A pidlocli' 40 muy be inserted in the perfor. ne and the switch thereby locked in open position. lVhen the bar Q9 is in this position, the shoulder 35 is held just out olf engagement with the roching bar and, consequently, the 'fuse-compel1 ment door is retained in closed position.

The housing' 13 is secured to the panel or base 4; by Ineens ot bolts l and i2 that nre secured to the panel fi and project through perforate wings 43 and 1M, respectively, thit rire secured to the side walls oit' the housing. living' nuts i5 and 4:6 serve to chnnp the housing to the bese. It will be observed that the wing nut i6 is disposed within the housing and is accessible only through the opening ht that is closed by the door l5, The wing nut cannot be removed so long as the door is closed und, therefore, the cover cannot be removed until the switch is moved to an open position wherein the door is unhitched and wherein the handle SO may be rcinov ed My invention resides in un interlockine device combined with certain elements' or the apparatus described above, which consists in av hitch bar A7 that is slidnblv mounted within u guide i8 which is secured to the wall member 24,-, This bnr provided with :in extension l!) (Fig. 5,) thnt is uehipted to enter n notch that is i"n'ovidcd in the right-limiti edge ot they urcuute operating bar Q9, when the switch member i:

52 oi the cover n'ioved to un open position 50 is registered with the projection or extension t9. The bin' i7 is pivoted to :i lnfnclet 5l, that is carried upon un extension lVien the cover is moved to open position, the projection Lit) enters the notch 5() and prevents closingl movement ot the switch member so long ns the cover is in n position other than closed position.

When the switch is moved to open position wherein the perforation 3"? reeisters with the perforation 3S that is provided in the clip 39, the notch 5() is out of registry with the bar i7 and n'ioveinent ot the bm' et? toward the right prevented b v reason oi. the engr-gement of the extension i9 with the outer tace ot the bor 29. The cover or door 15, therefore, fs locked in-closed position when the switch is locked in open position by ineens of the padlock t). The service may, therefore, be interrupted by the service company und the cover cloning the inse compertnieit locked in closed position through the inediiui'i o't the interlockiiig bnr just described, while the switch is locked in open position.

lifhiie I have described and illustrated but one embmliinent oft my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the :irtthat various changes, modiliczrtions, substitutions, additions and omissionsl may be mede in the apparatus described without deport-ing ifi-om the` spiritl sind scope ofthe invention, es forth by the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

The combination Yith e. switch mechanism provided with :t housing, :i movable switch meniber with in the housing, e` movable cover for the said housing, u. movable hitch tor the cover, and en operating member ttor the switch and the hitch provided with :i notch, of zin interlocking member actuated b v the said cover adapted to enter the sind noten when the cover is moved to open position to prevent closing movement ot the saidswitch member so long :is the cover is in open pofsftion.

In testimony whercot, l have hereunto subscribed my nome this ninth doy olf October, 1920.

wherein the notch XVILLIAM F, 'lARRlStH, 

